ILO to review Harper Government performance in the wake of union Labour Day activities

Labour Day activities by labour councils across Canada have combined with ILO reviews by the CLC International Department (ID) to deliver a strong message to the Harper Government, as well as to all Canadians, that “It’s Time for Change!”

Earlier this month, district labour councils organised events in 77 locations across the country, putting the federal government on notice that its attacks on workers’ wellbeing and social security are no longer acceptable.

In advance of the October 7 World Day for Decent Work and the upcoming national election on October 19, labour councils also responded in record numbers to call directly on the federal government to abandon its austerity programs, and to launch a full employment and Decent Work Agenda.

Their activities came a week after the CLC’s International Department submitted its most scathing review ever of the federal government record to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In its review, it produced evidence that Canada was systematically violating a number of the ILO Conventions that it has ratified, and argued that this policy direction was giving rise to higher levels of precarious work, more discrimination in the workplace, wage inequalities (especially for women), and a deterioration of occupational health and safety standards.

The review reports on five Canada-ratified Conventions have triggered an automatic review by the ILO of the government’s performance on a broad range of issues, to which responses are due next spring. It follows earlier reports to the ILO, in which the CLC has argued that Canada was also systematically violating international Conventions dealing with labour rights, collective bargaining and employment policy.

“For the first time in the CLC’s history, we have linked local actions of labour councils to an international process,” said CLC Executive Vice President, Marie Clarke Walker, adding that the responses expected from the ILO could play a role in shaping an agenda for change by a new government after the October 19 election.

Walker believes that the CLC reports are a strong indictment of Harper’s record on social and worker issues – in essence, he has displayed contempt for Canada’s international commitments. “We aim to report ILO’s findings to labour councils, and to help strengthen their resolve for a national Decent Work Agenda that respects workers’ rights and dignity,” she said.

For copies of the CLC reports to the ILO regarding the following ratified Conventions:

Over the last decade, the number of NAFTA law suits has doubled, 70% of which are aimed at Canada. Globally, 169 investor-state suits were heard at the World Bank in 2013 alone, behind closed doors and under strict commercial rules, which enable corporations to challenge environmental regulations, public health measures, labour protections, sovereign debt restructuring, community and indigenous affairs, and even decisions by national courts. The CLC wants the Canadian Government to reject ISDS, in favor of trade and investment frameworks that include strong labour standards and protections, prior and informed consent, and sustainable economic development.

Recently, the CLC has also denounced a $301 million ISDS lawsuit by the Canadian-Australian OceanaGold Corporation against the country of El Salvador for damages due to its moratorium on new mining projects because of water shortages, thus denying the company a permit to operate. Last May, a Salvadoran delegation to Canada formed part of a Stop the Suits Tour to highlight the disastrous effects of ISDS in their country and warning Canadians about its impacts. The tour was supported by the CLC, CUPE, PSAC, USW, SalvAide, CCPA, Council of Canadians, Oxfam Canada, MiningWatch and Kairos, among others. The annual conference of Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) also hosted a special forum on the subject, which was moderated by the CLC and hosted by the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA).

Colombia in the Shadow of Human Rights Abuses This news is supplemental to the June/July ID Update #3 http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/International/ID-News-Update3-2015-EN.pdfThe CLC has joined with affiliates, Canadian NGOs and solidarity organizations to form a Colombia Working Group. The Group’s aim is to assess the impacts on human rights of Canadian companies operating in Colombia and other Canadian involvement in that troubled country in light of four years of implementation of the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA).

The Colombia Working Group has produced a tool kit consisting of an analytical study, three fact sheets and an infographic highlighting the ongoing crisis of human displacement through land-grabbing by armed groups, the worsening environment for human rights defenders and the general strike in the agrarian economy resulting from free trade imports of subsidized agricultural products from Canada and the United States.

Violations of international labour standards and the murder of trade union organizers continues; only three percent of Canadian companies operating in Colombia have recognized a trade union in their facilities. The Canadian government claimed that a free trade agreement (FTA) with Colombia would help resolve human rights abuses, create jobs and improve economic development. But the study shows that the human rights crisis has not declined.

The reality is that the deal provides strong protection for investors’ rights, while requiring no enforceable obligations for mining, gas and oil producing multinationals. This has had a huge negative impact on African descendent and Indigenous communities many of which are in danger of extinction. The tool kit can be accessed from: http://www.pasc.ca/en.

Labour Day activities by labour councils across Canada have combined with ILO reviews by the CLC International Department (ID) to deliver a strong message to the Harper Government, as well as to all Canadians, that “It’s Time for Change!”

Earlier this month, district labour councils organised events in 77 locations across the country, putting the federal government on notice that its attacks on workers’ wellbeing and social security are no longer acceptable.

In advance of the October 7 World Day for Decent Work and the upcoming national election on October 19, labour councils also responded in record numbers to call directly on the federal government to abandon its austerity programs, and to launch a full employment and Decent Work Agenda.

Their activities came a week after the CLC’s International Department submitted its most scathing review ever of the federal government record to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In its review, it produced evidence that Canada was systematically violating a number of the ILO Conventions that it has ratified, and argued that this policy direction was giving rise to higher levels of precarious work, more discrimination in the workplace, wage inequalities (especially for women), and a deterioration of occupational health and safety standards.

The review reports on five Canada-ratified Conventions have triggered an automatic review by the ILO of the government’s performance on a broad range of issues, to which responses are due next spring. It follows earlier reports to the ILO, in which the CLC has argued that Canada was also systematically violating international Conventions dealing with labour rights, collective bargaining and employment policy.

“For the first time in the CLC’s history, we have linked local actions of labour councils to an international process,” said CLC Executive Vice President, Marie Clarke Walker, adding that the responses expected from the ILO could play a role in shaping an agenda for change by a new government after the October 19 election.

Walker believes that the CLC reports are a strong indictment of Harper’s record on social and worker issues – in essence, he has displayed contempt for Canada’s international commitments. “We aim to report ILO’s findings to labour councils, and to help strengthen their resolve for a national Decent Work Agenda that respects workers’ rights and dignity,” she said.

For copies of the CLC reports to the ILO regarding the following ratified Conventions: